Low-Carbon Concrete Requirements

On April 23rd, 2024 Santa Monica City Council adopted Ordinance #2778 that reduces emissions from concrete poured in new buildings, spas, and swimming pools. With this ordinance the City takes an important step to reduce our embodied carbon, the greenhouse gas emissions from the construction process. 

Low-Carbon Concrete Ordinance Details

The ordinance applies to any newly-constructed buildings, swimming pools, and spas submitted for plan review after June 12, 2024. 

The policy establishes cement and global warming potential limits for concretes at specified compressive strengths. Compliance is achieved by demonstrating that a concrete meets the cement limit OR the global warming potential limit by providing a concrete mix-design that lists the amount of cement or an environmental product declaration that lists the global warming potential level. Project applicants can show compliance for an individual concrete mix OR calculate project-based compliance. The project-based compliance forms linked below are a useful tool to easily determine project-based compliance. 

There are certain allowable increases and exemptions in the policy. Read more about these steps in the low-carbon concrete ordinance and the  resource. 

This flow chart from the Low-Carbon Concrete Guide to Compliance summarizes steps to compliance with the ordinance. 


Concrete must meet EITHER the Cement Limit or Global Warming Potential Limit at a specified compressive strength to comply. 

   
Cement Limits   
Global Warming Potential (GWP) Limits   
Minimum specified 28 day compressive strength f’c, psi 
Maximum cement content, lbs/yd3 
Maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP) kg CO2e/m3   
up to 2500 
362 
260 
3000 

                    410 

289 

4000

456

313 
5000 
503 
338 
6000 
531 
356 
7000 
594 
394 
7001 and higher    
657 
433 
up to 2499 light weight 
512 
500  
Up to 3499 light weight 
571 
546  
Up to 4499 light weight 
629 
594  
Notes  
(1) For concrete strengths between the stated values, use linear interpolation to determine cement and/or GWP limits.   
(2) Cement of any type per ASTM C150, ASTM C595. 
(3) Project applicants can choose to comply using the Maximum Cement limits OR the Maximum Global Warming Potential limits. 

Compliance Forms 

Compliance forms must be submitted to peter.roquemore@santamonica.gov with corresponding mix-designs or EPDs and batch receipts in order to schedule a final inspection. For guidance on meeting compliance please follow the steps in the following guide: Low-Carbon Concrete Guidance for Architects, Engineers, and Builders.

LCC Acknowledgement Form  - Submit this form with your project structural plans for plan review in Project Dox

LCC Compliance Verification - Verify compliance for individual concrete mixes used in a project.

Cement Limit Project Based Compliance - Verify compliance using the CEMENT LIMIT project based weighted average of a project.

GWP Project Based Compliance - Verify compliance using the GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL LIMIT project based weighted average of a project.

LCC Exemption Form - To apply for an exemption submit this form to peter.roquemore@santamonica.gov

Additional Resources:

 Ordinance 

Staff Report

Guidance for Architects, Engineers, and Builders

Fortify Fleet - You can use Fortify Fleet to connect with industry professionals and subcontractors who have experience using low carbon concrete in building projects in Southern California.

Contact Peter Roquemore, peter.roquemore@santamonica.gov, with any questions about the Low-Carbon Concrete Ordinance.